September 25, 2012
Dino Time Botches Dino Feathers
I’ve spilled a lot of virtual ink about feathered dinosaurs over the past few weeks. Despite assertions to the contrary, bristles, fluff and feathers make dinosaurs more interesting and exciting than they have ever been before. Of course, not every attempt to put plumage on dinosaurs does the animals justice. Case in point–Dino Time 3D.
I’ll watch just about anything with dinosaurs in it. This blog is all about tracking dinosaurs through science and pop culture, after all. But I am not going to subject my brain to Dino Time 3D (formerly DinoMom). Anything that “stars” Rob Schneider and two (!) Baldwin brothers is best avoided, especially since the movie’s trailer is uncomfortably close to this parody trailer of a typical Rob Schneider film.
But the film’s attempt at fluffy dinosaurs may the worst thing of all. I don’t even have a clear idea of what the feather-bearing species are supposed to be–they look like failed attempts at Carnival costumes. And it’s not like it’s impossible to create roughly accurate cartoonish dinosaurs. Many of the animated species on PBS’ Dinosaur Train hit the right balance and show off feathers without looking ridiculous. With a little attention to detail, feathery dinosaurs don’t have to look stupid.
[Hat-tip to Talcott Starr for telling me about this movie.]
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Well, to be fair, everything else in the movie, every thing, looks eye-explodingly awful and stupid too.
Hey, at least we can hold out hope for “The Good Dinosaur” (please don’t be disappointing please don’t be disappointing please don’t be disappointing…)
“Kids are still into skateboarding, right?” – Somebody during the production of “Dino Time”, I’d bet money on it.
“But the film’s attempt at fluffy dinosaurs may the worst thing of all. I don’t even have a clear idea of what the feather-bearing species are supposed to be–they look like failed attempts at Carnival costumes.”
I thought they looked more like Howard The Duck w/teeth, but your point still stands: They’re an insult to real feathered dinos.
Watched that with sound off, but I assume I’m not missing anything! Boy, that looks awful.
I can’t figure out what those beaked, feather-crested critters are supposed to be, either. Maybe they’re not dinosaurs at all? It’s the only explanation that makes sense. The T. rex they depict didn’t have any hint of feathering, and then there’s… well, the beaks. Toothed beaks, but they’re still beaks.
The lack of feathers; the portly, bunny handed, upright tyrannosaur; the tail-dragging, swamp-bound sauropods… I know it’s just a kids movie but it seems like their only research on dinosaurs was a book from the 1960s.
I have a feeling the feathered dinos in Dino Time are supposed to look ridiculous. The two in the trailer look and act (and, er, talk) like comic relief.
Not that it makes things much better. Begs the question if the makers – in the grand tradition of certain JP fans – think feathered dinosaurs are best suited as cretaceous clowns, especially with the ‘ruff’ on the blue ‘un. That thing wouldn’t make me dismiss a bit of ‘gorilla suit’ mentality in the process, either.
They’re the only answers I can think of to the obvious question: “what were they thinking?”
Mind you, the feather issue seems to have distracted you from the apparently swamp-dwelling sauropods. Prof. Ford must be feeling pretty good.
Also, long-tailed pterosaurs in the Cretaceous!
This movie couldn’t make me want to see it less if it tried. At least Ice Age 3, another awful kids dinosaur movie, had neat designs for its dinosaur characters. These just look bland.